Much like soap-shaving videos or stopping the gas tank right on the dollar, something that has always given me an odd sense of satisfaction is finding out a word is a palindrome, a word, phrase, sentence, or number that reads the same way forward or backward. So words like racecar, Hannah, or numbers like 11, 22, or 44.

 

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash
Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash
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Saturday 4/20/2024 was a special day, and not just for those stoners out there, but because it was the first of 10 days this month that are a palindrome, with 4/20 - 4/29 all being palindromes. Reading the date it's the same forward and backward.

 

Palindrome Fun Facts

Here are a couple of fun facts about palindromes from Walden.tv.

  • Stanley Yelnats, the main character from the movie "Holes" is a palindrome. His last name, Yelnats, is just Stanley spelled backward.
  • The longest palindrome in the dictionary is "tattarrattat", though it is worth noting that this is a bit of a stretch since it's the sound that gets made when you knock on a door. It's from Ulysses by James Joyce. It's more of a sound, but it's in the dictionary so we let it lie.
  • According to the BBC, there is an unofficial name for someone who has a fear of palindromes: Aibohphobia. There is no way this is real because, if you hadn't noticed, the phobia name for palindromes is also a palindrome. Seems like a sick joke (probably because it is a joke).
  • F, J, Q, V, X, and Z do not have any palindromes.

 

Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
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In the meantime, here are 17 palindromes to celebrate the special week.

17 Palindromes That Will Tickle Your Brain

4/20/2024 through 4/29/2024 is palindrome week! Celebrate it with some one-word palindromes. Provided by the University of Arizona.

Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill

LAUGH - Ten of the Best Dog Jokes You'll Ever Read!

Why dog jokes? Perhaps the better question is why NOT dog jokes?

Gallery Credit: James Rabe